Amazon.com: From the time she burst onto the music scene as a teenager with the smash hit "Blue" to the release of her new studio album "Family," she has seen it all while taking it with a grain of salt. Some people will always see her as the little girl with the booming voice. She wants to change all that, and part of that process will start with her latest album "Family." For the first time, LeAnn wrote or co-wrote every song on the album. From the autobiographical first track "Family" to the hit single "Nothin' Better To Do," she pours out her soul for the world to see. While the album is incredibly personal, LeAnn managed to create music that is incredibly universal. Her confident, compelling voice helps to solidify her as one of the premier vocalists in Country music. "Family" showcases her diversity as a vocalist from engaging duets with Marc Broussard on "Nothing Wrong" and Bon Jovi on "Til We're Not Strangers" to the soul searching song "What I Cannot Change." Through LeAnn's journey to adulthood, growing up, and developing as a writer and vocalist, she has produced an album that is one for the ages that chronicles the myriad relationships and experiences that have shaped the life of one of America's most successful artist.
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Amazon.com: This sounds like a pivotal release for Rimes, who made her breakthrough as a childhood prodigy with an uncanny vocal resemblance to Patsy Cline, and then evolved into an eclectic diva who couldn't quite decide what she wanted to be when she grew up. She's all grown up now, as both the sensual "Upper Hand" and the spiritual "What I Cannot Change" attest. Rimes had a hand in writing all the material (except for the bonus-cut duets with Jon Bon Jovi and Reba McEntire), and themes of family--though not always her family--pervade the lyrics. Musically, this is grittier, harder-edged, and more propulsive than much of her previous fare, with the title cut and "Nothin' Better to Do" evoking the Southern country soul of Bobbie Gentry, her duet with Marc Broussard on "Nothing Wrong" riffing like the Rolling Stones, and "One Day Too Long" sounding like the female Otis Redding. She's lost none of her supple upper register, as the balladry of "Pretty Things" attests, but Leann Rimes in no longer just a pretty voice. --Don McLeese
Artistic and Personal Growth Family which LeAnn admits is her most personal record to date,clearly shows her continued growth as an artist in general and a songwriter in particular.She wrote(or co-wrote)all of the songs on the cd(which is a first in her career thus far). The first single off the cd 'Nothin Better To Do' cracked Billboards Top 20 and the video was in heavy rotation on CMT and to a lesser degree on GAC.The song is very original,upbeat and the video perfectly suited the song and is Ms.Rimes best video to date. Some have been critical of the song citing that they cannot make out the words.This is weak.If you can't make out all the words,read them in the cd booklet.I can think of many great songs by many different artists where all the words cannot be clearly discerned. It can perhaps be classified as another vocal style. LeAnn's live performance of NBTD on the CMT music awards was spectacular. The best song on the cd(and one of the greatest songs that she has recorded thus far)is 'What I Cannot Change' which has just gone to radio(and is her third single off the record).The vocal performance of WICC is gut wrenching and drenching with emotion and the lyrics are as powerful as the vocal delivery. One Day Too Long is a classic bluesy song that also is performed with great emotional power and depth. It is just further evidence (and there has been plenty in LeAnn's impressive career)that she can sing any style of music with enourmous skill(as if that was the only type of music that she recorded).There is a good mix of upbeat songs(Family,NBTD,Upper Hand)and slower songs(I Want You With Me,Pretty Things,WICC,When You Love Someone Like That-the duet with Reba).Every song is quality(no filler here). What I Cannot Change is Grammy worthy and I hope it gets the attention it deserves. LeAnn just continues to get better with age and 'Family'gives ample evidence of that from start to finish. It is exciting to anticipate what is yet to come from this creative juggernaut.
Outstanding Album With 2005's "This Woman", LeAnn delivered one of the best albums I've heard, and even though this is a small step down, it is still a true 5 star album, that everyone should buy once they get the chance. Now that LeAnn is writing her own songs, she is delivering more impressing performances than ever before! Her voice sounds better than ever, and man, she has some awesome pipes! A true winner!
Favourites: "Good Friend & A Glass Of Wine" -Oh My God! This song is one of my all time favourite numbers by LeAnn! It's rocking, rollicking fun! The fact that this bombed at radio is beyond me.
"Nothin' Better To Do" -Wow! What a vocal performance" She sounds so great! This is just a classic uptempo country song, and simply an amazing song.
Buy this album along with Trisha's newest release, "Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love", and you've got the two greatest releases of 2007.
leann takes the "upper hand" Very solid release. love "nothin' better" especially the video (very cool), "good friend". "til' we ain't, "upper hand" and "when you love". She has grown vocally and as a writer. Recommended!
"Family" shows Rimes' versatility Rimes has always appealed to women and her release is no exception. The new cd "Family" is full of meaningful and enjoyable songs that I just can't turn off.
Family The Material Wasn't as Great as I first thought,on the album. Very happy with the service from Amazon as always.
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